Construction is separate from fibre
Cotton, linen, silk and wool can appear in woven or knitted constructions. Fibre describes the material input; construction describes how yarn becomes cloth. Treating cotton as one fabric therefore hides the difference between poplin, voile, moleskin, corduroy and a cotton bouclé knit.
FabStitch keeps family, composition and construction as separate fields so search and filters can answer different questions.
- One fibre can support multiple constructions.
- A fabric name often carries more useful behavior information than fibre alone.
Woven directions in the 2027 collection
The woven selection moves from open linen and fine cotton to sheer silk, tropical tailoring, dense moleskin, structured classics, ripstop and denim. Woven does not automatically mean rigid: wool-silk bi-stretch and stretch-woven compression are documented examples where stretch or recovery is part of the construction.
Likewise, a plain weave can be floating and sheer in chiffon, crisp in taffeta or stiff in organza because yarn and finish change the outcome.
- Woven fabrics range from sheer to dense.
- Stretch must be stated; it is not inferred from construction class.
Knit directions in the 2027 collection
Open-stitch, pointelle and crochet-effect knits emphasize visible holes and resort texture. Fine-gauge semi-sheer knits emphasize layering, while cotton or linen bouclé creates volume without the weight of a heavy winter jumper. Lightweight merino extends through shoulder seasons.
Boiled wool is a useful edge case: the source identifies it as knitted and then shrunk. Its finished role can be jackets or unlined coats even though it begins from a knit construction.
- Gauge helps distinguish open and fine knit directions.
- Finishing can substantially change a knitted base.
Choosing between them
Start with the product and silhouette. Shirts may call for crisp woven cotton, breathable linen, fluid crepe or even fine corduroy depending on season. Resortwear can move between linen-silk woven cloth and open knit structures. Active applications may use a stretch woven, mesh, tricot or rib.
The useful comparison is therefore product by product: composition, construction, weight, surface and intended use together.
- Use Best For pages to begin with the product.
- Use construction filters when the structural requirement is already known.
Questions this guide answers
- Are all knits stretchy?
- Knit construction can allow mechanical give, but the amount and direction of stretch must be confirmed from the actual product specification.
Continue with the catalog
Compare named fabrics, then send an inquiry with the quantity you need.